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Monday, 20 February 12
COAL BOOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN - SUNIL K KUMBHAT
 COALspot.com - The dawn of the 21st century has seen a shift in the world's commercial balance of power, with the dominance of the US, Europe and Japan challenged by the rapid industrialisation of hungry new economies. The rise of the so-called BRIIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India ,Indonesia and China - is giving birth to new global financial centres, vibrant industrial markets and above all surging demand for raw materials to supply new projects.
But where does environmental responsibility fit into this drive for resources?
Growing demand for thermal Coal has created a new coal boom, which is great news for Coal producing countries such as Indonesia, Australia , south Africa . The demand of coal is growing at a massive rate in Asia particularly India and China. Both the coal hungry countries are making efforts to secure supplies by acquiring Coal mines or forming Joint ventures for their new power generating plants.
The demand is fuelling the world prices of coal, although prices are still not as high as witnessed in 2008 when everything peaked before the global financial crisis but there all indications that by 2012/2013 coal prises will reach to record high.
The India and China are becoming the mainstay of the market . Both the countries are having huge Coal reserves ,but still they are importing huge qty of coal to meet there increased demand and as such they are effectively driving the world Coal market and its prices. India’s demand for coal is expected to grow at a faster rate than any other country in the world.
India's rich untapped mineral resources of more than 20 mineral types - including gold, copper, coal and bauxite but the fact that many of these resources are located in rural, heavily forested areas with predominantly tribal populations has raised concerns over the environmental impact of mining operations.
The country has a long history of environmental damage caused by both domestic and international mining companies, as well as the ecological problems from hundreds of abandoned mines in areas like Bihar's Jharia and Rhaniganj coal fields. Like China, India has been plagued by the environmental problems associated with illegal and unlicensed mining operations, which the country's Directorate General of Mines Safety has been ill-equipped to deal with due to funding deficiencies.
Similarly China has come under fire from human rights activists and environmental groups alike for its arguably lax approach to both worker safety (the country has become the mining disaster capital of the world in recent years) and environmental accountability. The Chinese Government's approach to corporate and environmental responsibility has been characterised by outside observers as simply paying lip service to the environment - hinting that ISO guidelines for mining would be welcomed - without implementing practical measures to promote change.
The environmental impact of mining operations in Brazil is also under sharper scrutiny than many other countries, primarily because its borders contain the lion's share of the Amazon rainforest, a haven for biodiversity and one of the most important eco-systems in the world.
As such, environmental awareness is particularly strong in the Brazilian mining industry. Experts from the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards are playing a leadership role in the further development of the recently introduced ISO 26000 international standard on social responsibility. Furthermore, licensing for new mining projects is often legally conditional on the drafting of comprehensive environmental impact studies, reports and extensive public consultations, particularly in areas inhabited by tribal groups.
Although carrying out mining operations in a region like the Amazon will be controversial, the environmental commitment seen here and echoed by many other Brazilian mining companies (including industry giant Vale, which has a complex environmental quality management system based on ISO 14001 standards) provides a useful model of awareness for other BRIC nations, and the global mining industry in general, to follow.
India is emerging as a fast economy, targeting 9-10% annual growth. Realizing the underlying growth potential will largely depend on it's ability to meet energy requirements. Energy sector whose growth targets inter alia depend on coal. At a 9% growth rate, the capacity requirement will be 960Gw and energy requirement will be 4,806 billion kWh. In the light of these projections, coal demand is estimated to rise many fold. Main concentration of Indian companies remains in Indonesia as many new mines are opened for exploration , exploitation and production .Today Indonesia is one of the most rapidly developing coal producing country in the world.
For a strong economy, one needs strong infrastructure and power plants. For strong infrastructure and power plants , one needs steel. Steel is the backbone of an economy, and it is metallurgical coal and thermal coal that is used to produce steel and electricity.
An increase in Coal production is the opposite of what the global climate change forums have wanted to see because coal without any doubt is one of the dirtiest and filthiest fossil fuel in terms of CO2 and when it comes to harmful emissions that most environmentalists and energy economists agree causes global warming.
Coal consumption is going in a direction that policy makers would prefer it not to go.
Critical question is whether there is a willingness amongst coal producers and power generating plants to make their technology cleaner, so it emits less greenhouse gases(GHG) which leads to global warming .Energy scientists have long been voicing concern on the rise in the level of Greenhouse gases, which leads to Global warming and climatic changes that are detrimental to economies worldwide.
The disastrous consequences for global climate change is one topic that has now taken very serious dimension but hardly been realised in a serious enough way by the nations across the world.
The new thermal plants being built are certainly more efficient than older ones. There exist technology to have emission-free power plants - the only constraint is the cost. The cost of clean coal technology is very high, yet when we look at the alternatives to coal, they are even higher than that - for example, nuclear, solar, wind. The real costs of all these alternatives are still to be determined, but there is no doubt that clean coal technologies can double the cost of coal in generating energy.
None of the alternatives appears to be commercially viable right now for required generation of energy without considering subsidies and tax incentives . If any country accepts sustainable growth and development as the way forward, it subsumes the climate change issues.
At the same time, no country can ignore the inherent contradiction in the expression ‘sustainable growth’.
Growth essentially involves exploiting natural resources for human benefit and countries have to strike a delicate balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth. It is easier said than done.
As the climate issue impinges on everyone, wisdom demands that nations sink their petty differences in approach and strategy to stem the danger from spreading further and squeezing the survival prospects of one and all.
Principally, the efforts boil down to reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, caused primarily by accelerated economic development through exploitation of fossil fuels rich in carbon dioxide.
Every action does not need to be official or based on protocols. In any case, every country need to adopt new methods and ways of doing things in optimising the use of exhaustible resources, energy and water. Corporations / Institutions must carry out energy analysis and incorporate environmental accounting practices to reduce green house gas emission levels at their facilities. The government, in turn, could enforce a form of taxation based on companies’ contribution to climate change.
Climate change is today's biggest problem, threatening mankind with extinction. The problem, largely of man's own doing, must be treated as an emergency by all.
The president of Indonesia issued a Presidential decree instructing all central and regional authorities to support the moratorium by suspending the granting of permits for the use of “primary natural forests” for two years. This Presidential decree is part of Indonesia’s efforts to comply with the bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Norway on forest conservation.
Various governments worldwide are beginning to put regulations in place and to encourage development of more sustainable sources of power generation in order to protect populations worldwide from the immediate detrimental effects on life and health, and to protect the environment for future generation.
By : Sunil K Kumbhat , Jodhpur( Rajasthan ) India
Views expressed herein are personal views of the author and not that of COALspot.com.
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Wednesday, 04 April 12
CHURCHILL MINING TO ACCELERATE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AGAINST INDONESIA
Churchill Mining plc (AIM: CHL), advises that notations on the Indonesian Supreme Court's register of cases shows the Supreme Court has rejected th ...
Monday, 02 April 12
BANGLADESH EYEING INDONESIA FOR COAL
COALspot.com - The high level executives of Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) of Bangladesh is visiting Ind ...
Monday, 02 April 12
WEEKLY DRY MARKET OVERVIEW - MARIA BERTZELETOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
The first quarter of the New Year ended with the BDI standing 42% above from the 26 years’ bottom low of 662 points on February 1st, and a pos ...
Saturday, 31 March 12
THE BDI CONTINUED TO MOVE UPWARD - VISTAAR
COALspot.com - The BDI continued to move upward and rose by 2.86 pct closing at 934 points.
The cape index was up by 3.14 pct closing at 1,412 po ...
Saturday, 31 March 12
SRI LANKA IMPORTS 152,555 MT OF INDONESIAN COAL IN FEBRUARY
COALspot.com: Indonesia, the world largest coal exporter, shipped 27.126* million tons of coal in February 2012, compared to 28.21* million to ...
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- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- White Energy Company Limited
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Australian Coal Association
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Parliament of New Zealand
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Minerals Council of Australia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- The University of Queensland
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
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